Column



c. B. scHNElBLE 2,197,595l

QOLUUN Filed Dec. 10, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. s. scHNElgBLE .ZJWLQS comm Filed Dec. l0. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. i6, 1940 associated therewith i'or maintaining an even volume of now within the column.

The column may be employed as a dust separating column, distilling column, dephlegmating tower, scrubbing tower, absorption tower, and similar towers.

An object of the invention is to provide a tower or column with means for preventing the volume passing therethrough from dropping below a predetermined volume to the end that the column will serve effectively as a dust separator, distilling column, dephlegmating tower, scrubbing tower, absorption tower, etc. A further object is to provide a pressure-responsive valve by which the volume of gas or air within the 'column will be increased in volume by the admission of outside air for the purpose of maintaining adesired volumc within the column. A further object is to provide a columnwith a pressure diierentlal-responsive valve by means oi which 'outside air is automatically introduced into the column to maintain a predetermined volume therein. Other specic objects and advantages will appear as the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in

which- I K Figure l is a broken side view in elevation of a column embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form ,of the invention. f

In the illustrationgiven, A designates a column casing provided with a tapered lower portion A'. The upper portion of the column is l provided with the usual baille which the air, vapor, or other gaseous material passing upwardly through the casing is given a whirling or circular motion. Such baie plates and vanes are described in detail in my Patents No. 1,783,813 and No. 1,790,590, and also in my co-pending application Serial. No. 38,634 for Column. It will be understood, however, that other types of vanes or baille plates may be employed. The casing A is provided near its lower portion with an inlet pipe ld, the pipe entering tangentially into the casing, thereby aiding in giving the incoming gas, air or vapors a rotary motion'.

On the opposite side of the casing A is a tangentially arranged inlet il equipped with a valve l2 having a curved metal guide i3, a spring I being interposed for normally maintaining the valve closed. Under a predetermined pressure,

ring and plates by (Cl. HB3-fill) ri'his invention relates to a column and means however, the valve l2 yields against the force of spring it to admit air into the casing. It will be observed that the valve i2 is pivotally connected tothe inlet il at the point iii whereby the free end of the valve engages the outer side of the inlet il, thereby directing or delecting Ythe air toward the wall of casing A. Thus the air en-y tering through the inlet il is directed toward the casing A in the same direction in which the ,incoming air through inlet ii passes.

In the operation of the device, air or other gas or vapors normally enter through the inlet pipe iv and pass withl a rotary motion upwardly through the tiers of vanes and plates meeting the downflowing liquid. As long as the incoming volume is' sumcienta velocity is obtained which will render the column effective for its various uses. Should, however, the volume drop through any obstruction being formed in pipe id, etc., the volume within the column at once diminishes and eiilci'ent separation or the other desired result is not obtained. For example, if

the column is being used as a means for removing dust from air, the velocity ci the incoming air must be such, in passing through the vanes,

i 'as to give the necessary rotary movement. However, if the volume of the air drops below a predetermined point, it is found thatthis motion is not obtained and that the dust is not eectlvely removed from the smaller volume of air. In order to remedy this dimculty, I have found that a spring urged valve located in the inlet Il will yield whenv the pressure within the chamber drops under the influence'of a lower volume so that air rushes in through inlet Ii and produces the necessary volume for efdcient operation.

In normal operations, I 4prefer to draw the air through the column because this prevents the dust and other material carried by the air from coming in contact with the ian since the` dust and other abrasivematerials are removed in the column before it reaches the fan. Under such operations, the valve .i2 is set in the manner illustrated in Fig. Zso as to yield when the pressurev withinY the column reaches a predetermined ypoint below the pressure of the air outside.

Ifdt is desired to force the air through thel column, umn drop for any reason, the valve I2 will admit suicient air to bring up the desired volume.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the casing B is provided with a conical lower portion B. The casing' is provided at its lower end with an inlet it identical with the inlet I0 of Figs. 1

and 2. The outlet il enters at' the top of the and shouldA the pressure within the colcolumn and communicates with pump IB. The pump I8 discharges through outlet Iflwhich is provided with one discharge pipe 20 leading to the atmosphere or to any other desired point and the other pipe 2i leading back to an intermediate point in the casing B. The pipe 2| is onlumn through pipe 23. 15

provided with a spring-controlled valve 22, substantially. the same as that shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that this may be, if desired, a hand-operated or regulatable valve. Pipe 28 may valso be provided with a hand-operated valve 22B.

Water is introduced intor the lower half of the Oil or other suitable liquid is introduced into'the upper portion of the column through pipe 2d. The oil is drawn` casing is supported a' curved deflector 29,whiclr tends to throw the water or other liquid outwardly against the lower portion of the casing.

In the operation of the modified form of column shown in Fig. 3, I introduce lthe make-up air into a portion about midway or just below the middle of the column. It will be understood th'at instead oi introducing cleansed air from the pump, I may introduce at this point any outside air. By introducing the make-up air at a point well above the bottom of the column, I increase the velocity Ain the upper portion of the column while allowing the velocity to be low in the lower portion of the column. Also, by introducing cleansed air, the wear and tear upon the apparatus in the upper portion of the column is reduced while at the same time a better separation is effected.

In the special arrangement illustrated in Fig. 3, I circulate oil in the upper portion of the casing. By having the pipe 2l communicate with the casing B just below the division ring baffle, separating the oil section from the water section, I am able to introduce a greater volume of air into the upper portion of the casing, thereby increasing the velocity in the oil section. By this arrangement, it is possible to have a low flow in the water section and thus reduce the chance of abrasion with larger dust particles while at the same time having a higher velocity which is controlled in the'oil section just above. Of course, it will be understood that the connection or pipe 2| may be at any vertical point along the column so as to control the velocity in the section just above.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of a specic embodiment thereof it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention except in so far as included in the accompanying claims, and in the accompanying claims Where the words gaa vaporf air, etc., are used, it will be understood that such terms are used interchangeably and in their broad sense to include all vapors, gases and the like.

I claim:

1.. In a column of the character set forth adapted for the separation of dust and the'like from air, said column being provided with la tangential inlet and an outlet, means associated with the outlet side of said column for drawing air therethrough, means within said column and between said inlet and outlet for separating the dust from said air, a second tangential inlet leading in the `same circular direction as the rst inlet and on the same side of said separating means with said rst inlet, and a valve controlling said inlet and being responsive to a pressure below atmospheric within said column so as to admit air from an independent source and maintain the volume of air within said column above a predetermined v volume.

2. In a column of the character set forth adapted for the separation 4of dust and the like from air, said column being provided 'with a tangential inlet and with an outlet, means communicating with the outlet of said column for drawing air therethrough, means within said column and between said inlet and said outlet for separating the dust from said air, a second tangential inlet located on the same side of said separating means with said first inlet andv leading in the same circular direction as the rst inlet, and a valve controlling said inlet and being responsive to a pressure below atmospheric within said`column so as to admit air from an independent source and maintain the volume of air within said Column above a predetermined volume.

3. In a column of the character set forth adapted for the separation of dust and the like from air, said column being provided with a tangential inlet at its outlet end and with an inlet at its upper end, suction means associated with the outlet of said column for drawing air through said inlet and through said column, means within said column and between said inlet and outlet for separating the dust from said air, a second inlet leading in the same circular direction as the first inlet and on the same side of said separating means with said rst inlet, and a valve controlling said inlet and being responsive to a pressure below atmospheric within said column so as to admit air from an independent source and maintain the volume of air'within said column above a predetermined volume.

4. In a column o'f the character set forth adapted for the separation of dust and the like from air, said column being provided with an inlet at thelower end thereof and an outlet at the upper end thereof, means associated with the outlet side of said column for drawing air therethrough, means within said column and between said inlet and said outlet for separating the dust from said air, a second inlet leading 'into said column on the same side of said separating means as said first outlet, and a valve controlling said inlet and being responsive to a pressure below atmospheric within said column so as to admit air from an independent source and maintain the volume of air within said column above a predetermined volume.

f CLAUDE B. SCHNEIBLE. 

